Adventure Valley, located on the outskirts of Durham, will host its annual Easter Holidays event from Friday, April 3, to Sunday, April 19, 2026.

The event will include a full programme of themed activities.

Janine Calzini, owner of Adventure Valley, said: “Easter is always a truly special time at Adventure Valley, and we’re delighted to be bringing back a fantastic line-up of family-friendly activities for 2026.

“Easter Holiday at Adventure Valley offers something for everyone.

“From magical character meet-and-greets to hands-on animal experiences and plenty of opportunities to play, explore and make lasting memories.

“We’re especially excited to welcome both the Easter Bunny and Bruno the Bear across the event and can’t wait to see families enjoying everything we have planned.”

Visitors will be invited into the indoor Easter Garden for an egg hunt, followed by a meet-and-greet experience.

Those attending on or before Easter Sunday will have the chance to meet the Easter Bunny, while visitors after Easter can look forward to meeting Bruno the Bear instead.

A wide range of springtime activities will run throughout the day, including pony grooming sessions, reptile encounters, and the Bunny Hop Disco.

The event is designed to be weather-proof, with acres of outdoor play areas and three large indoor soft play zones.

Activities are available throughout the day, with no time limits, so families can make the most of their visit from morning until early evening.

The Bunny Hop Disco will offer a lively break from exploring, while pony grooming sessions give children a chance to interact with some of the centre’s friendly animals.

Adventure Valley expects high demand for tickets based on the popularity of previous seasonal events and recommends booking early.

The Easter Holidays event aims to offer a fun-packed day out for families across the North East, filled with opportunities for play, exploration, and seasonal celebration.

Located just outside Durham, Adventure Valley is a visitor attraction with indoor and outdoor play facilities.

LAST Sunday I was privileged to take to the stage at Theatre Royal Newcastle.

It was a dance show. And before you ask, NO — I wasn’t dancing.

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In fact, EVERYONE who took to the stage was dancing…except me!! I was emceeing students from the Eve Trew School of Dance and Gateshead Children’s Arts and Theatre School – a charity showcase where we were entertained by hoofers ranging in age from 3 to 80+ years. Well done one and all; my feet were sore just introducing everyone!

Anyone who knows me, will tell you I was not blessed with Terpsichorean talent! Any attempt at rhythm from my feet is like a cross between a medical episode and Riverdance on melting ice.

My great pal, South Tyneside legend, Ray Spencer MBE ( there is nothing like his panto Dame) had me alongside him in The Customs House pantomime just to make him look even better, and it worked! Ray’s observations on my dancing abilities are funnier than anything I brought to the shows!

I recently attempted dancing at a Strictly event held at Hardwick Hall, for a really excellent cause. Nuvo Wellbeing is a lovely charity that brings dance and exercise to under-served areas in County Durham and beyond.

My partner on the night was the founder, Bethany Ainsley (an actual dancer!). The routine was at its best when I stood aside and let Beth do her thing, brilliantly.

Putting dance aside, (which is what I really should do) whenever I am on a great stage like Theatre Royal Newcastle, I cannot help but think how lucky I am to even stand where truly great performers have stood (or danced) on the exact same spot – I get to see the audience from their viewpoint, feel similar butterflies, hear the same hush before the lights go up.

And the history at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal really is something else. This is a stage that has hosted Hollywood royalty and theatrical giants alike.

Sir John Gielgud performed Hamlet at the Theatre Royal in 1948 and this really made it a key place for other giants to visit on tour. Thespians such as Laurence Olivier, Sir Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, and Kenneth Branagh have graced this stage.

After a refurb in the late 80’s, Oscar winner Charlton Heston starred in A Man for All Seasons here and felt a real connection to the area. His grandfather worked down Tyneside mines as a boy in the 1890s before moving to America. I later saw, and briefly met Heston in the West End but that is another story for another article.

The first show I saw in this great theatre with my Uncle John, was an RSC production of Cole Porter’s ‘Kiss Me, Kate’, starring Kate O’Mara, bouncing before the footlights in 1991.

And when I worked on BBC local radio I interviewed countless people on stage, in dressing rooms, during rehearsals, at read-throughs… everyone from choreographer Matthew Bourne (there’s dance again!!) to the panto superstars, Danny and Clive.

It is also very humbling, standing where so many greats have stood and I don’t mean in a spooky, “haunted stage” way.

Standing there last Sunday, when I wasn’t thinking of my introductions for the next dazzling dance troupe, I was being swept up by history.

Carried away by the music, the drama, the laughter, and emotion brought about by the people who’ve passed through that stage door and performed on these legendary boards.

How lucky we are, up here, to have theatres like these on our doorsteps and I will try to travel around some of our other magnificent venues for future columns!

And I promise to never dance again…honest!

FACTS & FOOTNOTES

l The Theatre Royal first opened in 1837, designed by the celebrated architect John and Benjamin Green – making it one of the finest historic theatres in the UK.

l A fire destroyed the inside of the theatre in 1899. Architect Frank Matcham completely redesigned the interior which reopened in1901.

l Upcoming shows include ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ plus the musicals ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Operation Mincemeat’.

You can email Alfie via www.AlfieJoey.com and subscribe to his free newsletter.

CAIRO (AP) — A missile attack on Israel by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday raises concern that Tehran’s proxies may again try to block Red Sea shipping routes, as Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz keeps another key global trade passage virtually closed.

The Houthis said they fired a barrage of missiles at “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel, their first since the start of the war in the Middle East a month ago. The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

When asked about the Houthis, Israeli military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin replied: “We are preparing for a multifront war.”

The Houthis are a key Iranian ally

The Houthis are a crucial part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance,” which includes militant groups in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories. They control the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and much of the country’s north, and since 2014 have fought a civil war against the internationally recognized government that is backed by a Saudi-led coalition.

Unlike Lebanon’s Hezbollah and militant groups in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen had held back for a month since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

Red Sea shipping attacks would further disrupt the global economy

Now that they have entered the war with a missile attack on Israel, there are growing concerns that they could start attacking shipping in the Red Sea. Such a move would further disrupt the maritime industry and the global economy since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and energy prices. The rebels also have the capability of striking oil facilities in the Persian Gulf as they did previously during the Yemen civil war.

The Houthis said they won’t allow the U.S. and Israel to use the Red Sea for attacks on Iran. “Our fingers are on the trigger,” Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, said in a statement Friday.

The Houthi attacks on vessels would not only further push up oil prices but destabilize “all of maritime security,” said Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group. “The impact would not be limited to the energy market.”

Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has been sending millions of barrels of crude oil a day through Bab el-Mandeb, at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

The 32-kilometer (20-mile)-wide strait is one of the busiest for global oil trade. A fourth of global container trade also transits through the strait on its way to and from the Suez Canal. Disrupting transit through Bab al-Madab forces shipping firms to route their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, as they did in 2024 and 2025, significantly increasing costs.

About 12% of the world’s trade typically passes through Suez, including oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics.

“It would be devastating for so many countries,” Nagi said. “If we see more pressure on the Iranians, or there’s any escalation, the Houthis will jump in harshly.”

Red Sea is a critical corridor for Europe’s natural gas

Such attacks will add more pressure on energy supplies for the 27-nation European Union, which relies on imported natural gas to power factories, generate electricity and heat homes. Tankers carrying liquefied natural gas — which is supercooled to travel by ship instead of pipeline — routinely pass through the Red Sea.

The Houthis attacked over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, from November 2023 until January 2025, and also launched projectiles at Israel. They said their attacks were in support of Hamas during the war in Gaza.

The U.S. and Israel responded with a punishing air campaign across the Houthi-held areas in Yemen, which killed many people, including most of the Houthi-allied Cabinet in Sanaa. President Donald Trump halted U.S. strikes on the Houthis after a deal that saw the rebels stopping their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

___

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Beirut contributed to this report.

Flights are about to get more expensive for UK travellers booking holidays to popular destinations

Passengers considering booking flights from the UK should do so before Wednesday to dodge an upcoming price rise. Air passenger duty (APD) is set to increase on April 1, making air travel more costly. Since the duty is included in the price of each airline ticket, carriers indicate the change is likely to push up fares on certain routes, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

The air passenger duty per person varies based on several factors, including ticket class and the distance between the destination country’s capital and the UK. The charge rises substantially if you’re seated in anything above basic economy and if you’re travelling to a country whose capital is over 2,000 miles from London, reports the Mirror.

Travel expert Simon Calder notes that the levy “is unique to the UK and a topic of much controversy”. He adds: “Chancellor Rachel Reeves has imposed an above-inflation increase from April 1, 2026 and one in line with the retail prices index a year after that. By the summer of 2027, a family of four flying premium economy to Orlando will pay over £1,000 in tax for leaving the UK in anything better than basic economy.”

Four different categories of destination

• UK domestic flights
• Band A: Countries where capital city is 2,000 miles or less from London — this covers all of Europe
• Band B: Capital city is 2,001-5,500 miles from London — includes most long-haul destinations
• Band C: Capital city is over 5,500 miles from London — includes Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Buenos Aires and Australia.

What are the rates?

From April 1, 2026, they will all rise to the following:

• UK domestic: £8 (economy) or £16 (anything but economy)
• Band A: £15 or £32
• Band B: £102 or £244
• Band C: £106 or £253

Before April 1, 2026 the rates are as follows:

• UK domestic: £7 or £14
• Band A: £13 or £28
• Band B: £90 or £216
• Band C: £94 or £224

As you can see, the increases are not substantial but could add significant costs to the price of a holiday for a family of four travelling more than 2,000 miles.

APD does not apply to children under 16 travelling in basic economy but is payable for all children over two travelling in premium classes.

How much APD will I pay?

From April 1, 2026, a family of four with children between two and 15 will pay the following APD:

• UK: £16 in basic economy, £64 in premium economy or better.
• Europe: £30 or £128
• Most long-haul destinations: £204 or £976
• Ultra-long-haul destinations: £212 or £1,012

However, a family of four with children aged 16 and over will pay the following APD from April 1, 2026:

• UK: £32 in basic economy, £64 in premium economy or better
• Europe: £60 or £128
• Most long-haul destinations: £408 or £976
• Ultra-long-haul destinations: £424 or £1,012

As you can see, the year-on-year increases are not that significant for shorter flights, but can add up more if you are taking older children on longer flights. But if you feel that you want to save every pound possible, if you get your flights booked before Wednesday then you’ll save on APD.

These are some of those to have been locked up recently

A woman who punched, kicked, and stamped on a victim while demanding money is among the latest Cambridgeshire offenders to be sent to prison. The list of criminals also includes a man who raped two women in Peterborough.

These are some of the people who were jailed after appearing at courts across the region between March 20 and March 27. CambridgeshireLive regularly reports on local crimes.

Here is a run down of some of the Cambridgeshire criminals to have been jailed in the past days.

‘Predatory’ man raped women who told him ‘no’

Wayne Lightfoot, 36, has been sent to prison for 26 years after being convicted of his crimes. He met his first victim on a night in September 2022.

They went to the victim’s home and had consensual sex. However, later that night he raped her, despite being told “no” and that he needed to leave.

In August 2025, Lightfoot went on a date with a second woman in Peterborough, before going back to his house in Stanton House, Hampton Hargate. When they arrived, the victim changed her mind and said she wanted to leave.

However, he violently assaulted her, took her phone away and then raped her. Following a trial at Peterborough Crown Court, he was found guilty of four counts of rape, seven counts of sexual assault and false imprisonment.

To read the full story click here.

Woman punched, kicked, and stamped on victim

A 28-year-old woman who punched, kicked, and stamped on another woman while demanding money has been sent to jail. Natalie Renton, 28, has been sentenced to almost three years for her crime.

Renton, 28, approached the victim, asking for a lighter, in the morning of January 30 in a car park near Maskew Avenue in Peterborough. The victim, a woman in her 30s, told Renton that she did not have one.

Renton became aggressive and verbally abusive before punching the victim, dragging her to the ground by her hair, and repeatedly kicking and stamping on her face. Renton demanded money throughout the attack, but none was handed over. The victim suffered swelling, bruising, and hair loss, and was treated in hospital.

She was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to assault with intent to commit robbery. The court also imposed a restraining order until 2030, ordering Renton to not approach the victim or attempt to contact her directly or indirectly.

To read the full story click here.

Woman jailed after shoplifting spree

Charlene Monks, 27, admitted to a string of thefts in Peterborough and was sent to jail. She began her spree in late February, by stealing from Asda, in Rivergate on three separate occasions.

On March 1, Monks, of no fixed address, entered the Co-op, in Waterhouse Way, Hampton Gardens, Peterborough, and went to the checkout to buy alcohol and cigarettes. However, before paying, Monks grabbed the items and ran out the shop.

She also committed theft at Sainsbury’s in Oxney Road, Parnwell, Peterborough, on March 2, and she was later arrested on March 19.

Monks admitted the thefts, together with two in Southend-on-Sea in Essex, and she was jailed for a year after a suspended sentence imposed in January for shoplifting was activated. The court also ordered Monks to pay £1311.41 in compensation.

To read the full story click here.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: “In general, the reason for adding a 350kW super-clip is that we would like to avoid drivers having to do a lift and coast. Because if there is a lift and coast, there is an even bigger speed differential with the car that is following.

“It is a case that should be studied with a certain level of analytical approach. I don’t think a simple solution exists.

“It is in the agenda of (governing body) the FIA in terms of the aspects of these 2026 regulations that should be improved. We don’t want to wait for things to happen to put actions in place. We have a responsibility to put in place the actions that, especially from a safety point of view, should be implemented.”

There has been an effort from F1, and by extension from the teams, to emphasise the positive aspects of the new regulations, as some see them.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff pointed out after the previous race in China that he and F1 president Stefano Domenicali had discussed the positive reaction from the audience to the new form of racing, which in all three races so far has featured cars passing and re-passing for several laps before the positions stabilise.

Wolff said in Japan on Sunday: “Nobody can complain about the lack of good racing. Would you agree? Yeah or not?”

When the assembled media paused in responding, Wolff said: “Experts. Old-school traditionalists.”

But that remark could also be addressed at some of the drivers. Verstappen has likened the new F1 to the “Mario Kart” computer game. Fernando Alonso has called it “the battery world championship”.

Sainz said: “The racing is OK because maybe they are having fun watching on TV. But from a driver’s standpoint you realise there can be 50km/h speed delta. That is not racing. There is no [other] category in the world with these closing speeds. It’s when these accidents can happen.”

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, second behind race winner Kimi Antonelli on Sunday, said: “We understand as a sport there’s a lot of things we need to tweak, a lot of things we need to change. And especially on safety grounds, yes, there’s some things that need to be looked into pretty quickly.”

Normally, my time with a vehicle is limited to a week-long press loan, which is enough to test performance, comfort and tech, but nowhere near long enough to say anything meaningful about how it holds up in day-to-day use over time. This extended stint with a seven-year-old Model 3 has been very different – and in a good way.

Across my time with the car, I didn’t experience a single mechanical or technical fault. No phantom warning lights, no glitches that needed a hard reset, no electrical gremlins lurking in the background. The infotainment system remained stable, the driver-assist features worked consistently, and every powered convenience item – from windows to mirrors to heated seats – behaved exactly as they should.

In an age where many buyers are understandably wary of complex, software-heavy EVs, that fault-free run is worth underlining.

Crucially, the way the car drove at the end of the test was virtually indistinguishable from how it felt on day one. Acceleration remained just as eye-opening as ever; that trademark Model 3 Performance shove never dulled, and there was no sense that the battery or motors were starting to flag. There was no obvious sign of degradation in day-to-day driving, either in how quickly it charged or in how far it would comfortably go between top-ups.

Of course, my experience is just one viewpoint. It’s clear from owner forums and social media that not every Tesla story is as straightforwardly positive as this, but I can only speak for the car I had on my driveway, and in this case it was as good when it went back as it was when it arrived. For a seven-year-old performance EV that’s now sitting firmly in used-car territory, that’s encouraging.

This is where Tesla’s Certified Pre-Owned programme comes into sharper focus.

Buying a used EV still feels like a leap of faith for many drivers, particularly when it comes to battery health and the sheer amount of technology on board.

Tesla tries to bridge that gap with its CPO scheme, which adds an extra layer of reassurance on top of the brand’s existing battery and drive unit coverage.

Every Certified Pre-Owned Tesla is put through a detailed inspection and refurbishment process by Tesla’s own technicians, covering core areas such as the battery pack, brakes, suspension, charging hardware, electrical systems and interior condition, as well as verifying that the car has no record of structural damage or airbag deployment. For buyers who don’t want to rely solely on a third-party inspection or dealer promise, that factory-backed assessment carries weight.

​On top of this, CPO cars benefit from a Used Vehicle Limited Warranty, which applies once the original basic new-car warranty has expired. This covers defects in materials or workmanship for a set period or mileage, and runs alongside the longer Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty.

For as long as that used warranty is active, Tesla’s Roadside Assistance across Europe also comes as part of the package, providing additional peace of mind.

​Taken together, my time with this 2019 Model 3 Performance and the structure of Tesla’s Certified Pre-Owned scheme paint a largely reassuring picture for anyone considering a used example.

The car itself proved that an early Model 3 can shrug off several years and a fair chunk of mileage without losing its sparkle. The CPO programme, meanwhile, helps reduce the perceived risk for those coming from more traditional petrol or diesel cars, offering both a thorough pre-sale check and meaningful backup if issues emerge later. While I wouldn’t claim that every used Tesla will be flawless, this particular car showed that a well-looked-after, certified Model 3 Performance can still deliver speed, comfort and cutting-edge tech.

Tesla Model 3 Performance

YEAR BUILT: 2019

MILEAGE: 44,294

ACCELERATION: 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds

TOP SPEED: 155mph

RANGE: Potential 329 miles (WLTP) when new

PRICE: Estimated £22k to £25k in today’s market

“Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes is out of the friendlies against France and Croatia,” read a statement from CBF. “After the game against Manchester City, for the final of the English League Cup, the athlete complained of pain in his right knee. Imaging tests have confirmed that Gabriel is not fit to play in the matches during this international break.”

Up to 70 UK citizens have been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for taking photos and videos of Iranian attacks, it has been claimed by a British-based campaign group.

Detained in Dubai chief executive Radha Stirling said she believed dozens of Britons had been arrested in the UAE for sharing war images under the country’s “draconian” cybercrime laws.

“We’re talking approaching 50 to 70 was my estimate and possibly even more. I think by the end of this we’ll see a lot more, possibly 100, maybe 150,” she told Sky News.

But the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it was only providing consular assistance to a “small number” of UK citizens detained over these issues in the Gulf nation.

“We are providing consular assistance to a small number of British nationals detained in the UAE in connection with this issue, and our ambassador is engaging with the Emirati authorities about their cases,” an FCDO spokesperson said.

Five Britons are currently receiving consular assistance in the UAE after being detained on such charges, with some already being released, Sky News understands.

Ms Stirling, a human rights advocate and lawyer focused on Dubai, said many Britons had been detained for sharing updates on their welfare, after Iran launched missile and drone attacks against its gulf neighbours in response to US and Israeli strikes.

“Most people did not know and were unaware of these cybercrime laws and the vast extent to which they can be applied, especially in a situation like this,” she said.

“There is no way that any of these people knew that it was illegal to send a private message to colleagues saying, ‘here I am, I’ve arrived at the airport. Is it safe for me to walk through, given this explosion’, and then sharing a photo of that explosion with colleagues.”

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Ms Stirling rejected criticism that Britons who had elected to move to the UAE to take advantage of its tax exemptions were not deserving of government assistance.

“When your citizens are locked up, when they’re arbitrarily detained, when they’re prosecuted under national security laws for simply sending a photo to a loved one, that’s when your government needs to step up,” she said.

“And it’s irrelevant whether there’s tax or no tax in the UAE, our government is obliged to provide that service or else we look weak diplomatically and in the eyes of the world.”

Ms Stirling said anyone arrested under cyber security laws could face harsh penalties under the UAE’s strict laws, including a life sentence.

“That’s expats, that’s tourists, some of them for simply sharing a private message saying ‘Mum, I’m okay’, or to a husband or a wife overseas; ‘This building has just been blown up. I live here. Here’s a photo of me in my apartment’.

“People are just being arrested, prosecuted or charged and potentially even escalated to national security charges in Abu Dhabi, which could see them in prison for life.”

Palm Sunday – a religious event which commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover – was celebrated today as hundreds gathered at York Minster to pay their respects.

In the gospel, Jesus arrives riding into the city on a donkey, while the crowds spread their cloaks and palm branches on the street to honour him as their long-awaited Messiah and King.

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To mark this day in York, a procession – including two donkeys – and led by members of the clergy gathered outside the South Piazza of the Minster to welcome worshippers.

Crowds were greeted by a choir and led in prayer by Dean Dominic Barrington – holding their palm crosses in the air – before the procession began, entering into the cathedral via the West End.

After entering the Minster, various liturgies, gospels, and hymns were performed with a special sermon read by The Very Reverend Cythia Briggs Kittredge – Dean Emerita at the Semeniary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.

A spokesperson for the Minster welcomed worshippers ‘most warmly’ to the Palm Sunday Liturgy – noting that it marks the beginning of Holy Week.

The crowd raising their crosses (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

They said: “On Palm Sunday, the Church commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem to accomplish his saving work through his dying and rising again.

“The Procession with Palms is the first of the commemorative actions of Holy Week. The procession is an act of praise to Christ the King who reigns and triumphs on the cross, and it expresses our readiness to take up our cross and follow our Lord.”

George the Donkey (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

The two donkeys involved in this year’s event were named Gary and George, with this year being the first time that George has taken part in the procession.

This afternoon, the Minster will hold a Choral Evensong service at 4pm, and the Ebor Singers choir will perform John Stainer’s Crucifixion at 7.30pm.